Proteins

Regenerative agriculture, renewable energy is ‘best path forward’ for reducing Scope 3 emissions

31-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Upstream and downstream activities that indirectly impact a company’s Scope 3 emissions may be difficult to measure, but a collaborative investment between stakeholders will help improve environmental impacts long-term, Brian Nash, vice president of corporate...

‘Wellness is a luxury for certain consumers,’ NIQ shares how Ozempic, protein, clean labels are motivating consumers in 2024

31-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Consumers' focus on value during months of high inflation has impacted the wellness market in 2023, but GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and clean-label and protein-rich products are poised to grow the space in 2024, Sherry Frey, VP of total wellness for...

‘Plant-based downturn isn’t halting innovation’: Beneo talks 2024 alt protein strategy

30-Jan-2024 By Flora Southey

The ingredients supplier outlines its two-pronged alternative protein strategy, which it is betting on to reignite demand for plant-based meat.

‘People want to eat meat,’ SCiFi Foods CEO on first production run, potential of cell-cultivated meat

26-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Food-tech company SCiFi Foods inches closer to releasing its hybrid meat product that consists of a blend of cell-cultivated beef and plant proteins, upon completing its first commercial-scale production run, company co-founder and CEO Joshua March told...

IFF to improve alternative meat capabilities, invests in Coperion’s HME technology

24-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

By investing in Coperion’s high-moisture extrusion (HME) technology, which improves sensory attributes like texture and appearance of plant-based meat alternatives, IFF will incorporate its flavor and ingredient expertise from its Re-Imagine Protein Innovation...

Alternative seafoods: The omega-3 opportunity

24-Jan-2024 By Nikki Hancocks

There’s a lot of opportunity for sustainable omega-3 suppliers in the seafood alternatives arena as the world searches for ways to feed a population of 10 billion by the year 2050.

‘Mass customisation’: New 3D printing tech brings more flexibility to alternative meat and seafood production

23-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Austrian start-up Revo Foods is well known for its 3D-printed fish and meat whole cuts. Now, it has announced technology that can work continuously and produce a variety of products simultaneously, introducing significant flexibility into the production...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How willing are Americans to try animal-free dairy?

22-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Historically, most Americans have liked to keep their food and tech separate, as in the case of genetic modification, but research from animal-free dairy company New Culture suggests the majority of consumers will accept technology or unfamiliar production...

What is the environmental impact of cultivated meat?

19-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

While the verdict is still out on the sustainability of cultivated meat production, a panel of experts during the Tufts University Cellular Agriculture Day on Jan. 11 in Boston, Mass., are optimistic, citing the need for expansive data sets on more diverse...

What is the ‘protein transition’? Untangling the narratives

19-Jan-2024 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Talk about a ‘protein transition’ is rife in the world of food. But what exactly is a protein transition? A study by Nature Food identifies three narratives through which a protein transition is interpreted, and three potential drivers of change.

UC Davis opens alt protein center to fill ‘the impending gap’ between meat demand, production

17-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is launching its Integrative Center for Alternative Meat and Protein (iCAMP) this week, as the center brings together various academic groups and industry stakeholders to advance alternative meat science...

USDA: 'We will need cellular agriculture' to reach climate, food innovation goals

17-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Sustained government support and transparent scientific research, such as USDA’s landmark grant to Tufts University’s National Institute for Cellular Agriculture program, can energize cellular agriculture R&D and renew attention from the private sector,...

News in brief

Imagindairy receives GRAS nod from FDA, acquires industrial-scale precision fermentation lines

17-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Israeli-based food-tech startup Imagindairy expects products made with its animal-free dairy protein to launch in the US within the year after it says it received from FDA a letter of no objection for the ingredient’s GRAS status and the subsequent acquisition...

Diversified protein sourcing is on the 2024 agenda: What's the path to mainstream adoption?

17-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

While the alternative protein scene continues to pursue widespread uptake and acceptance, in 2024, expect to see new and evolving concepts, technologies and regulatory support to progress towards attaining resilient food systems.

[Video] Investors ‘wake up’ to reality of food-tech investments, turn attention to sustainability

15-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Food-tech investment is staging a comeback in 2024 as investors focus on sustainability, including plant-based meat technologies and companies, Nadav Berger, founder of venture capital (VC) firm PeakBridge, shared during the first part in a two-part video...

Unilever, IFF & Wageningen University tackle flavor challenges in plant-based meat

15-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

A four-year research project between IFF and Unilever, along with Wageningen University & Research (WUR) scientists in the Netherlands, will focus on how flavors bind to protein molecules “with the goal of recommending novel flavoring strategies that...

From tuna to plant-based fish, how brands are expanding the canned fish category

11-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

Poised to grow to $50.47bn by 2030, the global canned seafood market is driven by consumer demand for nutrient-rich foods, like protein and fatty acids, and longer shelf-life, per Grandview Research data. Notably, canned tuna, with its high nutritional...

Egg prices jump as avian flu spreads, pushing up overall food prices, CPI reveals

11-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Consumer Price Index released today shows the price of eggs is climbing again as producers scramble to contain a highly contagious outbreak of avian flu that the US Department of Agriculture estimates has infected more than 50 flocks in the last 30...

PepsiCo sees snacking potential in chickpeas that check health, sustainability trends

10-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Chickpeas could take a more prominent role in PepsiCo’s snack portfolio given rising consumer interest in the legume, its environmental sustainability attributes and its versatility stemming from its mild flavor and diverse texture applications, according...

Precision versus personalization: AHARA explores a “new frontier” in nutrition

10-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

With the rising popularity of personalized nutrition plans, AHARA’s app takes personalization one step further through precision nutrition, a combination of machine-learning, evidence-based nutrition science and an international advisory board to verify...

Eat Meati’s expansion into Target bucks retailer trend to downsize alternative proteins

10-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

At a time when many retailers are cutting back on the assortment and number of plant-based proteins they stock, fungi-based newcomer Meati continues to gain retail shelf space with the launch of four of its whole-cut MushroomRoot cutlets and steaks in...

When are ‘best’ claims puffery versus misleading? NAD weighs in on case brought against Old Trapper by Link Snacks

09-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Whether advertising something as “best” is protected as puffery or requires substantiation depends on the context and whether the claims are presented “monadically” or are comparative or quantifiable, according to an advertising watchdog that reviewed...

Alpha Foods responds to ‘tumultuous year for plant-based’ with Chicken Run partnership, focus on profitability

08-Jan-2024 By Ryan Daily

Alpha Foods is shrugging off a challenging year for the plant-based meat market, as it expects to receive a boost with the help of a recent licensed partnership with the creators of the Chicken Run film franchise, Shingly Lee, director of marketing for...

The EVERY Company’s partnership strategy to expand presence in retail and foodservice

08-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

With a mission to expand access to nutritious food worldwide, The EVERY Company’s CEO, Arturo Elizondo explained to FoodNavigator-USA how its B2C partnerships allows for its products to appear “more broadly” in the market, from retail products to food...

Not all ultra-processed foods impact health the same way, research suggests

04-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Intensifying criticism of ultra-processed foods without nuanced consideration of their nutrition could unfairly tar some plant-based meats and milks that “compare well with their animal-based counterparts,” which may be viewed more favorably because they...

Cal-Maine invests in cage-free eggs as sales plummet due to lower egg prices, bird-flu outbreak

04-Jan-2024 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite a one-two punch of lower egg prices and an avian flu outbreak that caused Cal-Maine Foods’ profits to plummet more than 90% in its second quarter of 2024, the fresh egg supplier remains optimistic about and committed to expanding production of...

Givaudan and UC Berkeley release new research on maximising alt-protein efficiency

04-Jan-2024 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

The duo’s latest white paper, “10 Alternative Protein Pathways: Opportunities for Greater Efficiency”, provides insights into how the sector can make plant-based products more affordable and sustainable.

FDA downplays impact on US infant formula supply in light of Reckitt/Mead Johnson recall

03-Jan-2024 By Teodora Lyubomirova

The manufacturer recalled more than 670,000 cans of Nutramigen infant formula after a finished product sampled outside the US tested positive for Cronobacter.

UMAMI Bioworks advisor Jennifer Bushman emphasizes need for storytelling to strengthen cultivated seafood industry

02-Jan-2024 By Deniz Ataman

A holistic integration of cultivated meat for non-human consumption is essential to “stabilize the depletion of natural resources,” according to Jennifer Bushman, a new advisor for the cultivated seafood company UMAMI Bioworks.

Mycelium partnership to expand animal-free meat production

21-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Ecovative Design will expand its AirMycelium technology to “introduce new, high-value mycelium crops to the mushroom farming industry and accelerating the growth of the mycelium materials sector,” including animal-free meats, with help from mushroom production...

Lab-grown foods ‘creep people out’, says Natural Grocers

21-Dec-2023 By Teodora Lyubomirova

Cell-cultured or precision fermentation-derived products including meat and dairy alternatives will be rejected by consumers in 2024, US grocery chain Natural Grocers predicts.

How to produce higher value alternative proteins with less cost, waste and energy

20-Dec-2023 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

Innovative processing and sequential extraction and purification hold the key, believes NIZO Food Research.

Producers boost plant-based meat’s nutritional value

19-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Plant-based meats role in public health will be boosted by the addition of ingredients such as vitamin B12.

Holland and Barrett predicts health trends for 2024

19-Dec-2023 By Olivia Brown

Following strong trends in protein and immunity throughout 2023, Holland and Barrett predicts new consumer demands for natural energy alternatives, cognitive care, personalised hormonal support, and optimised hydration in 2024.

Beyond meat and dairy analogues: What can plant-based protein do?

15-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Plant-based protein isn’t just about meat and dairy analogues. At Food Ingredients Europe in Frankfurt last month, FoodNavigator spoke to companies doing a range of things with alternative proteins outside of simply adding them to plant-based burgers,...

'We're not pulling out, but we're not diving in 100%,' Before the Butcher CEO on retail plans

13-Dec-2023 By Ryan Daily

Plant-based meat company Before the Butcher is focusing on growing and innovating its private label and foodservice businesses, as it assess how the alternative protein retail market will shake out, company founder and CEO Danny O'Malley told FoodNavigator-USA.

News in Brief

Delay in organic animal welfare standards recalls rule’s long journey

13-Dec-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The hard-fought and long-awaited Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards final rule has been delayed, yet again, and while the change is “minor” and due to a technicality, it recalls the many other delays and near-deaths the rule has endured since work...

Clever Carnivore continues its path towards low-cost cultivated meat with recent funding

08-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Biotech startup, Clever Carnivore, closed $7m of seed round funding to expand production of its low-cost cultivated pork sausage with plans to launch its prototype, the Clever Bratwurst in early 2024 without asking the consumer to pay more, Virginia Rangos,...

Alternative protein producer Farmless plans expand production, maintain protein production efficiency

08-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Farmless, a startup producing protein using a feedstock which combines hydrogen, nitrogen, CO2 and renewable energy, is planning to build a pilot plant after a new injection of funding. Its purpose is simple – cutting down on the land used to create protein,...

Tyson Foods opens high-tech chicken facility to accelerate growth, boost efficiency

06-Dec-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Tyson Foods celebrated the much-anticipated grand opening of a new 325,000-square-foot fully-cooked food production facility in Danville, Va., last week – marking a significant milestone in its “bold,” multi-point plan to improve its performance, which...

Future Ocean Foods “tells a new story for alternative seafood”

04-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The recently launched association Future Ocean Foods is changing the narrative for alternative seafood through industry and consumer education and partnerships, including with traditional seafood, to reflect the category’s nutritious, sustainable, equitable...

Mac and cheese goes dairy-free with Kraft NotMac&Cheese launch

01-Dec-2023 By Deniz Ataman

The pantry staple by The Kraft Heinz Not Company features a plant-based sauce made of fava bean protein and coconut oil powder in two flavors—original and white cheddar—priced at $3.49 a box on shelves this month and continuing its rollout in early 2024....

Changing menus, focus on sustainable production: COP28 focuses more on food

30-Nov-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The food and beverage industry is inherently linked to the climate crisis, responsible for at least a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. The COP28 summit, held this year in Dubai, UAE, focuses more significantly on food than in previous years.

How newstalgia blends comfort and novelty in the snack category

29-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Consumers still crave familiar flavors and experiences, as they did during the pandemic, but they also are open to new innovations and technologies -- leading to an emerging trend of 'newstalgia,' Kevin Ryan, CEO, Malachite Strategy and Research,...

Stacking plant-based meat up against the real thing: ‘Often it has a slightly better nutritional composition’

29-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

A report finds that plant-based burgers, meatballs and bacon alternatives are healthier than their meaty counterparts, but animal meat scores better for chicken chunks, chicken fillet, and schnitzel.

Heali’s food-as-medicine platform to improve nutrition, food access for consumers, businesses

21-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

With $3M in seed funding from Astanor Ventures, Heali plans to expand its personalized nutrition services for consumers and patients with chronic illnesses through its database of evidence-based nutrition research, while developing a larger presence with...

Futureproofing the Food System

Will ‘healthy’ iconography help consumers select better options?

17-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

While the FDA is updating its current definition of healthy and exploring voluntary iconography for packaging, the term means many different things to many different people, which could complicate the impact of the icon and product marketing, suggests...

Futureproofing the Food System

[Watch-on-demand] “Your AI is going to be as good as your data”

16-Nov-2023 By Deniz Ataman

Understanding how to identify and leverage useful data into a consistent and predictive algorithm is critical for a nimble and productive business strategy. How can businesses across the food sector—from ingredient discovery and product development to...

Futureproofing The Food System

Watch on demand: Can cellular agriculture, precision fermentation and molecular farming deliver on the promise for more sustainable proteins?

15-Nov-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite notable advances in alternative protein production in 2023, including clearing regulatory hurdles, increasing capacity and expanding distribution, the segment faces significant hurdles, including questions about safety, sales and its ability to...

The ‘world’s first’ alt seafood association wants to close the protein, omega gap

13-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

The Future Ocean Foods association has several activities on the agenda, including improving the nutritional profile of alternative seafood, with a particular focus on protein and omegas.